Chapter 3 – Little Gestures, Big Signals
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, making the classroom look like a stage set for a drama that only Luna seemed to notice. She sat in her usual spot with Sayuri, her books stacked neatly, and pencils arranged like soldiers ready for battle.
Peryn, as always, had his bag casually tossed onto his desk behind hers, leaning slightly so he could peek over the backrest without being obvious.
"Your handwriting is… messy," he said suddenly, leaning closer than usual. Luna flinched slightly but caught the teasing glint in his eyes.
"I like my handwriting," she shot back, trying to hide the fact that she secretly appreciated him noticing.
"Hm. Cute. Still wrong," he replied, smirking.
Hina, from her desk, whispered just loud enough for Luna to hear, "He notices everything about you, you know."
Luna's cheeks heated. "I-I don't think so…"
"Mhmm," Hina said, clearly amused.
The day's lessons passed with their usual playful chaos. During French class, Luna miswrote a word, and Peryn whispered the correct spelling to her. She fixed it — sort of — but he leaned over anyway and corrected it perfectly. She bit back a laugh, feeling a flutter she couldn't explain.
During lunch, Hina orchestrated a "coincidental" seating arrangement so Luna ended up near Peryn again. They shared snacks — Luna handed out some banana bread, and Peryn took most of it, earning a playful glare from Akio.
"You're hogging it," Luna said.
"Sharing is overrated," he replied, smirk widening.
Akio's frown deepened slightly. Luna noticed but tried to ignore it.
Later, in science class, Peryn watched her quietly while she worked on an experiment, leaning slightly forward so only she would feel his gaze. When Luna laughed at a small mishap — spilling a bit of liquid from a test tube — he chuckled too, shaking his head.
"You're lucky I'm here to notice your genius," he whispered.
"You talk too much," she muttered, but she didn't sound annoyed.
Hina, clearly enjoying the show, passed Luna a note that read: "Make him notice your brilliant side even more." Luna rolled her eyes, but she knew exactly what it meant: subtle flirting, small gestures, and getting Peryn's attention in ways words couldn't.
By the end of the day, Luna realized how much attention Peryn gave her, and how much she started noticing him in return. Little things — a glance, a whispered comment, a smirk — added up in ways that made her heartbeat faster and her thoughts jumble.
Akio's subtle jealousy didn't go unnoticed either. He tried to interject or get Luna's attention, but Peryn seemed effortlessly aware, a quiet challenge in his smirk whenever Akio tried.
Walking out of class, Peryn caught her gaze briefly and gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. It was a tiny gesture, but it made Luna's chest feel tight in a way she hadn't expected.
Northern Heights Academy wasn't just a school anymore. It was a stage for whispered mischief, subtle gestures, and an intricate dance of attention, teasing, and feelings that Luna was only beginning to understand.
And somewhere deep down, she knew — this was only the beginning.